HOW TO: Make Organic Sculpting Clay in 4 Simple Steps Using 4 Ingredients!

by , 06/18/13   filed under: craft, diy kids crafts, eco play, green kids, how-to, recipe, recipes
 
 
Most kids love any type of art activity -- especially one as tactile and open ended as working with sculpting clay. Not only is it fun to play with, this is an art medium that your children will beg to help you make. They can use the organic sculpting clay the same way they use play dough, or they can create masterpieces that may be baked in the oven and then painted and kept as a keepsake or given as a gift. Read on for a simple recipe for organic sculpting clay that will entertain and engage your kids.
 

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HOW TO: Make Crunchy Nori Crackers Kids will Love

by , 06/18/13   filed under: cooking, food, recipe, vegan cooking
 
 
Even if you're not a big fan of the oceany taste of nori, or of sea vegetables in general, you still have to try these delicious crunchy crackers. The flavor of the nori will mellow nicely in the oven, which combined with the sesame oil and cute seeds makes this easy recipe a fun one for kids to make alongside you. Sprinkle some sea salt, wasabi powder or brush on some brown rice syrup to make them sweet, these versatile nori nibbles are ideal for when you crave a crunchy healthy snack.

Crispy and very tasty, these nibbles will melt in your mouth and are a great way to include healthy algaes into your diet. Sea vegetables are an excellent source of iodine, iron, calcium and vitamin K, as well as a very good source of the B-vitamin folate and magnesium, so it’s worth to give them a go! Eat them warm, take them to the office or munch them away through the day, they are fun, quick and simple to make, and you will only need three ingredients: nori sheets, sesame oil and sesame seeds.
 

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Giant Spider is the Ultimate Climbing Structure for Courageous Kids

by , 06/18/13   filed under: architecture, eco play, green design, green kids

 
 
Arachnophobes, avert your eyes! That terrifying scene starring Shelob the giant spider from The Lord of the Rings 3 has seemingly sprung to life in the form of a playground near the Danish city Hillerod. Kids will get a kick out of climbing up this creepy crawly jungle gym… that’s if they’re not too spooked to play. This 15.7 foot Giant Spider structure—a collaborative development by Denmark design team MONSTRUM and “Kongevænget” housing—gives way for children to actively weave a web of play and infinite activity along the steel bars and ropes for an exciting climbing opportunity. Little ones as young as five and even teens as old as fourteen enjoy climbing the araneae like a tree house. Featuring eight super-sized legs and LED lights that sit in the spider’s interior to emit a warm nighttime glow, there’s no wonder the Giant Spider and the accompanying mushrooms she is scurrying about across the forest floor are a fan favorite.
 


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HOW TO: Make Organic Homemade Lemon Ice Cream Sandwiches

by , 06/17/13   filed under: baking, cooking, green family, green kids, how-to, recipes
 
 
Frozen ice cream cookie sandwiches in the summertime can't be beat. There's just something magical about grabbing an ice cream sandwich and heading out to the backyard to gobble it up. However, most store-bought options are anything but magical, packed with artificial colors, flavors, and other ingredients that we can't even pronounce -- as you can see, store-bought sweet processed treats leave a lot to be desired. Not to mention most of the packaging isn't even recyclable. Instead, you can make your own organic homemade ice cream sandwiches using whole ingredients that will have your child sweet treat dreaming all summer long, read on to learn how.
 

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England’s ‘Play Streets’ Initiative Shuts Down Streets so Kids are Free to Play in their Neighborhood

by , 06/17/13   filed under: eco play, green family, green kids

play streets, eco activities, green community, healthy community, eco kids, exercise, green activities, green kids, health and wellness
Image courtesy of Shutterstock

An outstanding new initiative called Play Streets has just launched in Reading, a large town in Berkshire, England. Though an ocean away, this locale’s bright idea is something many communities worldwide should try to imitate and implement. The concept behind Play Streets is to close down a street for a set time in order to allow children to play safely on their own street with friends who live nearby (Yep, just like how we used to play in our neighborhoods as kids). For adults, the program offers the added opportunity to get to know their neighbors. A Play Street can be created for up to three hours, on any day of the week, and up to once every fortnight — giving kids some free time without parents having to worry that they’re running around with cars. Inhabitants of residential neighborhoods can fill out an application requesting to participate. Due to the nature of the program, applicants must collect supporting signatures from about two-thirds of all residents who live on the street. The program will be running as a trial for one year, but hopefully Play Streets will be a success and will continue indefinitely. This program is a great way to help increase childhood activity while allowing kids to simply be kids. Wouldn’t you love to see a program like this in your community?

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5 Green Summer Camps & How to Find an Eco-Minded Summer Camp Near You

by , 06/17/13   filed under: green education series, green family, green kids

 
 
Image Courtesy of Shutterstock

Most summer camps have eco-friendly attributes, such as kids playing outside, lots of active sports and exercise, nature-minded activities and recycling programs. However, some summer camps go above and beyond the basics in order to make sure kids spend the summer becoming better protectors of the planet. Keep reading to learn about some awesome summer camps that focus on sustainability, conservation and green-minded activities -- and learn how to locate a green summer camp in your neck of the woods.
 


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6 of the World’s Coolest Green Playgrounds

by , 06/16/13   filed under: architecture, eco play, green design, green kids

 
 
When we were little, my parents would bring my siblings and I to an awesome playground in the next town over. It was called Kids' Cove, a massive wooden structure with tunnels, steps, slides, tires, bridges and little hiding spots. You couldn't drag us away until it was almost completely dark out.

With summer already in full swing, I've been daydreaming about that playground, remembering all the fun we had playing hide-and-seek in the crawl spaces and pretending to be pirates spying land from the highest spires. I started wondering if kids these days still had cool playground in which to burn excess calories and let their imaginations run wild. Boy are there ever!

Not only are people still building playgrounds that inspire rambunctious play, they're getting creative about the materials and design. Many are upcycled from creatively repurposed stuff that might otherwise have ended up in the landfill. If you're looking for a family-friendly adventure this summer, seek out one or more of these awesome green playgrounds during your travels!
 


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CoolKidsNYC’s Edgy Organic Collection Gives Trendy Kids Street Credit

by , 06/16/13   filed under: eco baby clothing, green baby, green kids, kids clothing

coolkidsnyc, organic clothing, organic kids clothes, nyc organic kids clothes, eco friendly clothing, eco friendly kids clothing, new york city kids boutique

Well-dressed kids aren’t born, they’re styled. And funky organic clothing retailer CoolKidsNYC makes it effortless to outfit kiddos in chic apparel. Your little fashionista can express herself in an offbeat organic pineapple print tee or look snappy in the crocodile tee that’s sure to turn heads. We’re stoked about this kid-friendly organic collection that specializes in unique high-quality threads with a bit of inspiration from the streets of New York City. “We find inspiration in the dynamic style and colorful soul of New York City and its diverse neighborhoods. CoolKidsNYC encourages you to experience the fashion sense of artsy SoHo, the urban Hip Hop of the South Bronx, the swagger of Harlem’s 125th Street, the exclusive glamour and flair of Madison and 5th Avenues, the punk-rock and skater styles of the Lower East Side and the bohemian feel of Brooklyn all under one domain,” the brand boasts on its website.

Check out the collection of stylish organic fashions here.

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Eco-Friendly Musical Instruments That Will Delight Tots

Eco-Friendly Musical Instruments That Will Delight Tots

Did you know that early music training benefits your baby’s brain? With that in mind, we’ve rounded up 5 green musical toys for your budding musician! The eco-friendly xylophone pictured above

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Babywearing Daddy Doll Promotes Childcare as a Family Affair

Babywearing Daddy Doll Promotes Childcare as a Family Affair

Gone are the days when mom, and mom alone took care of the baby. Nowadays, REAL men know that dads can help promote breastfeeding, change diapers like a pro, co-sleep like a champ and would never

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HOW TO: Make Vegan, Gluten-Free Frozen Chocolate Banana Bites

HOW TO: Make Vegan, Gluten-Free Frozen Chocolate Banana Bites

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The HugglePod HangOut is a Perfect Haven for Summer Days

The HugglePod HangOut is a Perfect Haven for Summer Days

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Single-Load Liquid Laundry Packets are a Serious Health Hazard for Kids

Single-Load Liquid Laundry Packets are a Serious Health Hazard for Kids

Image courtesy CPSC The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) received about 500 incident reports in 2012 involving injury due to colorful single load liquid laundry packets. In response, CPSC is

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Huggies Designs Pregnancy Belt that Lets Dads “Feel” Baby’s Kick When Mom Does

Huggies Designs Pregnancy Belt that Lets Dads “Feel” Baby’s Kick When Mom Does

Dads-to-be don’t have the benefit of experiencing the joys of pregnancy in a physical sense (or the morning sickness for that matter), but a new pregnancy belt designed by Huggies is giving new dads a

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World’s First Green Library for Kids “My Tree House” Opens its Doors!

World’s First Green Library for Kids “My Tree House” Opens its Doors!

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The Quinny Jett LongboardStroller is a Stroller/Skateboard Hybrid!

The Quinny Jett LongboardStroller is a Stroller/Skateboard Hybrid!

Skateboarders rejoice! The new Quinny Jett turns an unassuming jaunt in the stroller into an invigorating skate session. The longboard stroller was designed by Studio Peter Van Riet for Quinny, combining

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Unacceptable Levels is a New Film that Documents the Immense Harm Chemicals are Causing People and the Planet

Unacceptable Levels is a New Film that Documents the Immense Harm Chemicals are Causing People and the Planet

Unacceptable Levels is a new film that examines the many problems we face due to rampant chemical use in our world. Filmmaker and father, Ed Brown, interviewed leading experts in the fields of science,

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Sleep Deprived Moms May Have Higher Risk of Developing Heart Disease

Sleep Deprived Moms May Have Higher Risk of Developing Heart Disease

Image courtesy Shutterstock It’s very easy to fall into a super-mom position where you take on the bulk of the child raising, chores and the insurmountable tasks that seem to surround moms who

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LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!